I'm not sure I fully understand the buzz surrounding 22-year-old Swede Lykke Li, who headlined a sold-out Bowery Bowery Ballroom tonight. For most of her set, she strode the stage like a jailbait glamourpuss in black garters and stockings, but without anything musically interesting to say. She may have an angelic voice, but her backup band sounds rudimentary, jumping around from cheesy 80's pop to hip hop.
Still, despite her flowing blonde locks, she emanates a dark, goth(ic) power than slips under your skin. But, Lord, what is with those Abba-like choruses? And, BTW, why does every hyped-up band these days need their name written on a 40 foot backdrop? Newsflash: we know who you are!
